Rabbi Chaim Pinto of Casablanca, also know as Rabbi Chaim Pinto Hakatan (the small) to distinguish him from his grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Pinto Hagadol (the Great), was born in Essaouira in the year 5625 (1855) and left this world on Heshvan 15, 5698 (October 20,

1937). Aside from being the grandson of Rabbi Chaim Pinto Hagadol (who is buried in Mogador), he was also the son of Rabbi Yehudah Pinto. The house in which he lived in Casablanca, located at 36 Commandant Provost, has become a place of pilgrimage for the Jews who come there and light candles.

By way of pious habit, he used to collect money from people for distributing to the poor, and after having finished allocating the funds, he would wash the scarf used for the collection. Once he was asked why he did this, and he replied that there was nothing filthier in the world than money: “I wash my scarf, therefore, to cleanse it of this dirt!” Indeed, he lived from the money that people gave, yet he always said, “Money is filthy!” He had yet another pious habit. Every day he would come to the home of a poor person and ask, “What did you prepare today to eat? I would like to taste what you cooked!” We know very well what a poor person eats: Vegetables, a piece of bread (or else some bread with tea and a salad of vegetables), and that’s it.

The saintly Rabbi Pinto, may he rest in peace, sat down with them, ate of their bread, brought them joy, and blessed them upon leaving. He didn’t always like to eat at the table of the rich. He would say that the Shechinah and blessing reign over the table of the poor more than over that of the rich. He would say that the fear of G-d was acquired precisely in destituteness and poverty, not in prosperity. Rabbi Haim Pinto was renown for his modesty and gift of prophesy, as testified by the following personal accounts:

• Account No. 1

Once when I was at home, my cousin came to get me and said, “Aziza, you absolutely have to come to our house!” I said, “Good!” and I went and saw that Rabbi Haim Pinto was there. When I saw him, He welcomed me five times. I answered him, “May G-d bless you,” and he told me, “You will give birth! You will have a child in two days. You will bring a girl into the world who will become rich!” (As it turned out, I had a girl two days later). He then said to me, “By the merit of my father and of my grandfather, you will have a girl! You already have a son who is at home. You will have a girl and you will recover easily after giving birth. You will give birth without pain, and then you will have a beautiful naming ceremony!” And really, two days after having spoken to the Tzaddik, I came back home with discomfort. The next day I had a girl, and since that time we’ve lived better than ever. After that – oh yes, I forgot – he had told me, “After having a girl, you will bring a boy into the world, but please, do not give him the name of your father!” My father had already died, yet I still named my son after him. One year later,

my son died. He had yet clearly told me, “The son you will have will be lost!”

• Account No. 2 

The story that I will recount to you occurred in Casablanca 37 years ago [this account was taken in 1974], just before the passing of Rabbi Haim Pinto. The majority of those in the Moroccan community knew this holy man, and the most part of these were still alive at that time and spoke of his merit. They say that before his departure from Mogador to Casablanca, people in

the city were used to going to his home on Saturday night for Melava Malka. On that night rabbis, elderly people, and women & children could be found there. After Saturday night prayers, he got out his violin and began singing the poems of his holy grandfather and Rabbi Israel Najara. It happened several times that he forgot himself and, without noticing, played until dawn. Afterwards he would say to his listeners, “I’m tired, and you should be too. Go to sleep, for you have to get up for morning prayers!” They replied to him, “Day has already arisen. It’s time to pray!” They performed the morning service, had breakfast, and justify. The rabbis of the city looked for an explanation to the following puzzle: Sometimes, certain verses of the poem that Rabbi Haim Pinto sang made him tremble, and all his listeners felt this emotion as well. The saint gave no explanation for this, and when people insisted that he speak, he got upset and said, “If you ask me once again, I will continue to refuse and no longer agree that you assemble in my home on Saturday night!” The rabbis asked his forgiveness and justify. No one asked him any more questions about these things. They had understood the greatness of the saint.